MANILA - (2ND UPDATE) Lieutenant General Benjamin Madrigal Jr., the head of the military's Eastern Mindanao Command, has been tapped as the next chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

ABS-CBN News obtained a copy of Madrigal's appointment paper dated Wednesday, designating him as the next head of the military.

He will replace AFP chief of Staff General Carlito Galvez Jr., who will retire on December 12.

Appointment of Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal as the next AFP Chief of Staff to succeed Gen. Carlito Galvez, who will retire on Dec 12. | via @Jorge_Carino pic.twitter.com/b23bASF2CQ

— ABS-CBN News Channel (@ANCALERTS) December 5, 2018

Madrigal took the helm of the EastMinCom in November last year.

• Hamon sa bagong EastMinCom commander, tapusin ang insurgency sa rehiyon

Before this, he was commander of the 701st Infantry Brigade in Mati, Davao Oriental.

He also served as assistant division commander of the 10th Infantry Division in Mawab, Compostela Valley; commander of the 4th Infantry Division in Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City; and commander of Southern Luzon Command in Camp General Nakar, Lucena City.

Madrigal is a member of the Philippine Military Academy "Sandiwa" Class of 1985.

-Report from Joyce Balancio and Jorge Cariño, ABS-CBN News